Temple Land Grab Probe: DMK Leader Ramkumar Denies Fraud Allegations, Cites Pending High Court Case

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI — The Tiruchirappalli city crime branch has registered a fraud case against M. Ramkumar, a local functionary and area secretary of the DMK, along with five others, over the alleged illegal encroachment and fraudulent registration of temple land in Srirangam.

The complaint, filed by the Joint Commissioner of the Arulmigu Aranganatha Swamy Temple, alleges that 7,515 square feet of prime temple property was unlawfully transferred using forged documents.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the disputed plot is part of a larger 5.87-acre parcel historically belonging to the temple, with records dating back to the 1930 Settlement Register.

The FIR details a series of suspicious transactions between December 2022 and January 2023, wherein private individuals allegedly created fake ownership documents and executed multiple sale deeds in favor of Ramkumar for a total consideration of ₹2.9 crore.

Authorities allege that the former Srirangam sub-registrar facilitated the illegal registration despite receiving prior objections from the temple administration.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Reports indicate that the encroached land, estimated to be worth approximately ₹50 crore, is currently being used to operate a local DMK party office.

The case has ignited a fierce political debate, with Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister S. Ramesh accusing the opposition party of "scientifically encroaching" on sacred properties.

Minister Ramesh questioned how a local area secretary could execute such a high-value land grab without the tacit support of senior party leaders and government officials.

In his defense, Ramkumar has categorically denied any wrongdoing.

He asserted that the land legally belonged to private individuals and that the registration was conducted properly by the sub-registrar after thorough document verification.

Furthermore, Ramkumar stated that the matter is already sub judice, with a related case currently pending before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, making the fresh police complaint an unnecessary political maneuver.

The Trichy police have launched a formal investigation into the matter, and reports suggest that arrests could follow as the probe deepens.

This incident has reignited broader concerns in Tamil Nadu regarding the vulnerability of temple assets to fraudulent claims and the urgent need for stringent digitization and protection of historical land records. As the legal battle moves to the courts, the case will serve as a critical test of the state’s commitment to safeguarding religious endowments from alleged political and administrative collusion.